College of Health
College Leadership:
Elizabeth A. Dolan, Dean
Erica Hoelscher, Associate Dean for Faculty and Staff
Won Choi, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education
Michael Gusmano, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Contact information:
Health | Science | Technology Building
College of Health Administrative Suite #155
124 East Morton Street
610.758.1800 | incoh@lehigh.edu
website: health.lehigh.edu
social: @lehighcoh
Lehigh’s College of Health strives for a world where everyone can reach their highest level of health. We make unconventional connections across diverse fields of study, conduct research that prioritizes real-world impact, and provide education through experience.
We offer degree programs at undergraduate and graduate levels. Our faculty conduct research, often with students, and address health comprehensively, accounting for the unique factors that impact, or determine, health, including race, gender, food security, policy, and physical environment. Faculty and students partner with affected communities to create technology-forward, data-driven methods of improving health that are culturally appropriate, accessible, and truly useful to the communities they are made to empower.
We prepare students to improve health in communities with experience that will make them stand out, whether they pursue higher education like medical school, or a career in healthcare, consulting, government, nonprofit, or any of the other many areas in the health economy.
Undergraduate
College of Health programs prepare students for a myriad of careers in health and healthcare. Students receive an applied education through a multi-disciplinary approach, emphasizing community partnership and the use of technology and data. We offer BA and BS degrees as well as minor programs that integrate ethics, cultural understanding, and social justice. Regardless of the degree program, real-world experience is central to a College of Health degree— 25% of our major course requirements are experiential. All students have the opportunity to engage in health-related research projects, field experiences, internships, study abroad programs, and more. With our hands-on, comprehensive approach to health, students learn how health and illness are just pieces of the larger puzzle of social, political, and environmental determinants, and strive to create a world where health equity is accessible for everyone. All College of Health undergraduate degrees require a minimum of 120 credits.
Graduate PROGRAMS
College of Health graduate programs equip students to understand and appropriately improve the health and well-being of populations and communities locally, nationally, and globally. Students investigate and address the multiple determinants of health through technology- and data-driven research and community partnership in all College of Health graduate programs. We empower our graduate students to shape the future to improve health of populations.
CAREERS
Career pathways for students studying in the College of Health are abundant and wide-ranging. Students pursue employment directly in the steadily-growing healthcare sector at health systems and hospitals, in the private sector at consulting firms and pharmaceutical companies, in political and governmental fields at state, federal and international levels, as well as the nonprofit sector at NGOs and community-based organizations. We prepare students to improve the health of communities through a variety of avenues including epidemiology, medicine, data science, biostatistics, public health, community health, global health, health economics, health policy, health promotion, health research, and health technology and innovation. At the College of Health, students prepare for a flourishing career and an innovative pathway dedicated to helping others.
RESEARCH Centers and Institutes
Lehigh’s College of Health is home to three interdisciplinary institutes that focus on investigative research on specific topics and areas of expertise. Lehigh and its partners invest in research institutes that excel at focused and multidisciplinary studies, working together to solve problems both locally and globally. We study, analyze, and develop knowledge in areas of health using collaboration and communication to help generate discoveries. There is also a Health Data Warehouse, a joint intitiative with the College of Business, and a secure, high-performance computing environment designed to support faculty and researchers in health data science, AI-driven analytics, and custom software development.
undergraduate programs
Contact information & Advising SUPPORT:
Upon completing any bachelor’s degree in the College of Health, students will…
- Demonstrate mastery of the determinants of health from a holistic and interdisciplinary perspective.
- Demonstrate proficiency in health literacy.
- Analyze the ethical complexities of health research and health decision-making.
- Demonstrate proficiency in writing and critical reading skills.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the methods appropriate for their field of study.
- Apply course concepts to the real-world context to improve the health of communities and populations.
- Critically evaluate theoretical frameworks for understanding health issues through an interdisciplinary and equity-focused lens.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of sustainability as it relates to health.
college distribution requirements
To meet the above learning objectives, all students in the College of Health must fulfill the following college distribution requirements, totaling 32-37 credits. Many of these classes will be available through the individual majors in the college.
Double-counting: Students may double count a writing-intensive distribution requirement with one additional distribution requirement; however, they cannot double count across other distribution categories (i.e., determinants, bioethics, etc.). Allowances to double-count distribution courses with major electives are determined by the selected major.
For additional information about any of our undergraduate programs, visit our website or email us at cohadvising@lehigh.edu.
| First Year Seminar | (1 class, 3 credits) | HLTH 090 First Year Seminar |
| Health Science Writing | (4 classes, 12-14 credits) | WRT 001 or WRT 003 Academic and Analytical Writing, WRT 002 or WRT 005 Research and Argument, (2) upper-level classes designated as health science writing listed below |
| Determinants of Health | (2 classes, 8 credits) | CGH 103 Biological & Environmental Determinants of Health, CGH 104 Sociocultural & Political Determinants of Health, CGH 105 Commercial Determinants of Health |
| Bioethics | (1 class, 3 credits) | Chosen from the list of approved classes below |
| Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | (1 class, 3 credits) | Chosen from the list of approved classes listed below |
| Sustainability | (1 class, 3 credits) | Chosen from the list of approved classes listed below |
| Bioethics | ||
| POPH 003 | Justice, Equity, and Ethics in Population Health | 3 |
| POPH 319 | Population Health Bioethics | 3 |
| Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Courses | ||
| CGH 002 | Introduction to LGBTQ+ Health | 3 |
| CGH 021 | Culture and Health | 3 |
| CGH 022 | Global Perspectives on Health | 3 |
| CGH 122 | Indigenous Healing Traditions | 3 |
| CGH 309 | Ethnomedical Traditions of the Americas | 3 |
| CGH 310 | Rural Communities and Health in the United States | 3 |
| CGH 311 | Religion, Spirituality, and Health | 3 |
| CGH 312 | Curses, Possessions, and Supernatural Illnesses | 3 |
| CGH 318 | Sexuality Education | 3 |
| CGH 322 | Contemporary Indigenous Health | 3 |
| CGH 323 | Disability and Society | 3 |
| CGH 325 | LGBTQ+ Health Research, Policy, and Practice | 3 |
| POPH 316 | Global Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice | 3 |
| Health Science Writing Courses | ||
| CGH 313 | Health Policy and Politics | 3 |
| CGH 314 | Advanced Commercial Determinants of Health | 3 |
| CGH 315 | Medical Mysteries | 3 |
| CGH 316 | Global Environmental Disasters & Policy | 3 |
| CGH 317 | Sex, Drugs, and Trauma | 3 |
| CGH 319 | Public Health Law | 3 |
| CGH 322 | Contemporary Indigenous Health | 3 |
| CGH 323 | Disability and Society | 3 |
| CGH 332 | Aging, Health, and Social Policy | 3 |
| EPI 310 | Environmental Epidemiology & Exposure Science | 3 |
| POPH 316 | Global Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice | 3 |
| POPH 319 | Population Health Bioethics | 3 |
| Sustainability Courses | ||
| CGH 102 | Community Health and Engineering | 3 |
| CGH 108 | Food Justice | 3 |
| CGH 316 | Global Environmental Disasters & Policy | 3 |
| POPH 106 | Global Environment and Human Welfare | 3 |
| POPH 317 | Urban Greenspace and Health | 3 |
A PATH TO MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR VETERINARY SCHOOL
Many students who pursue our majors continue on to graduate-level work in a health-related discipline. "Pre-health" students are those students interested in pursuing graduate-level study in a health field such as allopathic (M.D.) or osteopathic (D.O.) medicine, physician's assistant (PA), dentistry, nursing, or veterinary medicine. Pre-health students at Lehigh have the flexibility to major in the field of their preference, since Lehigh does not offer defined “pre-med” or “pre-dental” tracks.
Our programs allow students to follow their strengths and passions while also completing the prerequisite coursework needed for their intended medical, dental, or other professional programs, in addition to the suggested coursework for the MCAT exam. Students interested in attending medical school or other clinical paths should contact The Center for Career & Professional Development (careercenter@lehigh.edu) and ask to be enrolled in the Pre-Health Advising Course Site. A proposed plan of study should be discussed with your adviser.
undergraduate majors
- Biostatistics & Health Data Science
- Community & Global Health
- Population Health
- Health, Medicine & Society
- Integrated Business & Health
Undergraduate minors
- Biostatistics
- Community Health
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
- Global Health
- Health Policy & Politics
- Indigenous Peoples Health (not accepting new declarations)
- LGBTQ+ Health
- Maternal & Child Health
- Population Health
4+1 Accelerated Master program
B.A. Health Medicine & Society
Co-Directors:
- Prof. Michael Gusmano, College of Health
- Prof. Lucy Napper, College of Arts & Sciences
Click here for additional information.
The Health, Medicine, and Society major is jointly administered by the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Health. The challenge of meeting the increasingly complex health needs of growing and aging populations is moving to the forefront of national and international concerns in the 21st century. The Interdisciplinary Health, Medicine, and Society Major focuses on the social scientific, humanistic, and applied community-engaged dimensions of health and medical care to develop an understanding of how health, illness, and medical care impact individuals, families, communities, and societies. The joint major is intended to serve students who wish to be involved in some aspect of the healthcare industry, health policy, or public health and also students who are interested in communications, the pharmaceutical industry, law, business, agency work, and other careers where understanding health care is essential.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
| BA HEALTH, MEDICINE, & SOCIETY | ||
| In addition to the 30-36 required credits, all HMS majors are required to have a second major. 1, 2 | ||
| A minimum of 3 courses must be taken at the 300 level. | ||
| No more than two courses for a maximum of 8 credits may be taken outside of Lehigh, including non-Lehigh study abroad. | ||
| CORE REQUIREMENTS | 14-16 | |
| Health Humanities Core Course | ||
| Medical & Health Humanities | ||
| Bioethics | ||
| Behavior, Culture, & Society Core Course | ||
| Introduction to Health Psychology 4 | ||
or HMS/SOC 160 | Medicine and Society | |
| Public Health Core Course | ||
| Introduction to Population and Public Health | ||
or CGH 001 | Community Health | |
or CGH 004 | Introduction to Global Health | |
| Health Research Methods Core Course | ||
| Population Health Research Methods & Application | ||
or BSTA 101 | Population Health Data Science I | |
or BSTA 005 | Statistical Literacy in Health | |
or CGH 106 | Qualitative Methods in Health Research | |
| CONCENTRATIONS 3 | 9-12 | |
| Students must take a minimum of 3 courses outside of the core requirements in a single one of the following concentrations: | ||
Health Humanities | ||
or | ||
Behavior, Culture, & Society | ||
or | ||
Public Health & Policy | ||
Please see below for lists of concentration courses. | ||
| ELECTIVE REQUIREMENTS 3 | 6-8 | |
Take any 2 additional HMS courses (at least one of which must be outside of the selected concentration) | ||
| Total Required Credits | 30-36 | |
- 1
HMS students who complete their required second major as a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) through either College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) or the College of Health (COH) will obtain a double major regardless of the college in which HMS is completed. Students who pursue a combination of a HMS B.A. with a B.S. are required to petition for a dual degree.
- 2
No more than two courses outside of the core courses can come from cross-listed courses within the second major, and no more than 3 courses can double-count towards both majors regardless of home college.
- 3
A maximum of 4 credits of HMS 221 Peer Education Foundations, Supervised Research or Independent Study (i.e., HMS 271 Independent Study, HMS 371 Independent Study, HMS 292 Supervised Research, POPH 120 Independent Study or Research in Population Health, CGH 120 Independent Study or Research in Community and Global Health), or Internship (i.e., HMS 293 Internship , HMS 294 Health Equity Internship, CGH 130 Internship in Community and Global Health, CGH 330 Internship in Community and Global Health, POPH 130 Internship in Population Health, POPH 330 Internship in Population Health) may fulfill the major elective or major concentration requirements.
CONCENTRATION AND ELECTIVE COURSES
Each semester, a complete list of HMS course offerings can be found on the HMS website. Other elective courses may be approved at the discretion of the program director.
HEALTH HUMANITIES CONCENTRATION
| Take Three | ||
| Death and Dying: Religious and Ethical Perspectives | ||
| Pandemics and Public Health in Global History | ||
| Bioethics and the Law | ||
| Health and Society in Latin American History | ||
| Topics in Literature, Medicine, and Health | ||
| History of Modern Medicine | ||
| The Greek and Latin Roots of Medical Terminology | ||
| Topics in Film and Health | ||
| Keeping Africa and Africans Healthy: A History of Illness and Wellness | ||
| From Black Death to Covid-19:Plague,Pandemic,Ethics and Religion | ||
HMS/MLL 257 | ||
| Spanish for the Health Professions | ||
| Topics in Literature, Medicine, and Health | ||
| Research Methods in Health Humanities | ||
| Justice, Equity, and Ethics in Population Health | ||
| Representations of Disease & Disability in Popular Culture | ||
| Population Health Bioethics | ||
| Total Credits | 10-12 | |
BEHAVIOR, CULTURE, & SOCIETY CONCENTRATION
| Take Three | ||
| Introduction to Health Education 1 | ||
| Environmental Planning for Healthy Cities | ||
| Does Sex have a History? The History of Sexuality in the United States | ||
| Psychopathology | ||
| Health Communication | ||
| Medical Anthropology | ||
| HIV/AIDS and Society | ||
| Stress and Coping | ||
| Infections and Inequalities: HIV, TB and Malaria in the Global South | ||
| Social Epidemiology | ||
| The Psychology of Trauma | ||
| Global Health Issues | ||
| Health and Environmental Controversies | ||
| Advanced Topics in Health Psychology | ||
| The Psychology of Body Image and Eating Disorders | ||
| Health Care Reasoning and Decision Making | ||
| Drugs and Behavior | ||
| Pediatric Psychology | ||
| Health Economics | ||
| Total Credits | 11-12 | |
- 1
Students may not receive credit for both CGH 109/HMS 109 Introduction to Health Education /HMS 130 Introduction to Health Psychology and PSYC 130 Introduction to Health Psychology
PUBLIC HEALTH & POLICY CONCENTRATION
| Take Three | ||
| Peer Education Foundations | ||
| The Politics of Mental Health Policy | ||
| U.S. Health Care Politics | ||
| Introduction to Global Health | ||
| Commercial Determinants of Health | ||
| What is the US Healthcare Ecosystem? | ||
| Advanced Qualitative Methods in Community and Global Health | ||
| Mixed Methods in Health Research | ||
| Health Survey Research Methods | ||
| Community Health Interventions | ||
| Health Policy and Politics | ||
| Global Environmental Disasters & Policy | ||
| Healthcare Finance | ||
| Aging, Health, and Social Policy | ||
| Cross-National Comparisons of Health Systems & Policy | ||
| Community Based Participatory Research Methodology | ||
| Fundamentals of Epidemiology | ||
| Intermediate Epidemiology | ||
| Lifecourse Epidemiology | ||
| Introduction to Maternal and Child Health | ||
| Total Credits | 9-12 | |
OTHER COURSES AND ELECTIVES
| BIOS 010 | Bioscience in the 21st Century | 3 |
| EES/POPH 029 | Human Health and the Environment | 3 |
| HMS 090 | Big Questions Seminar | 3-4 |
| CGH 103 | Biological & Environmental Determinants of Health | 4 |
| POPH 106 | Global Environment and Human Welfare | 3 |
| CGH 120 | Independent Study or Research in Community and Global Health | 1-4 |
| POPH 120 | Independent Study or Research in Population Health | 1-4 |
| CGH 130 | Internship in Community and Global Health | 1-4 |
| POPH 130 | Internship in Population Health | 1-4 |
| CGH 150 | Special Topics in Community and Global Health | 3-4 |
| POPH 150 | Special Topics in Population Health | 3-4 |
| HMS 271 | Independent Study | 1-4 |
| HMS 291 | Special Topics | 1-4 |
| HMS 292 | Supervised Research | 1-8 |
| HMS 293 | Internship | 1-8 |
| HMS 371 | Independent Study | 1-4 |
| BSTA 308 | Advanced R Programming | 3 |
| EPI 310 | Environmental Epidemiology & Exposure Science | 3 |
| CGH 315 | Medical Mysteries | 3 |
| CGH 330 | Internship in Community and Global Health | 1-4 |
| POPH 330 | Internship in Population Health | 1-4 |
| CGH 350 | Special Topics in Community and Global Health | 3-4 |
| POPH 350 | Special Topics in Population Health | 3-4 |
| HMS 395 | Miscellaneous | 1-4 |
HMS CAS/COH B.S. + B.A. Distribution Requirements
For HMS double majors (B.A. + B.A.), the distribution requirements are outlined below:
- If a COH student pursues a B.A. in HMS and their required second major as a B.A. through CAS, they are required to fulfill the distribution requirements listed for a HMS CAS/COH B.A. + B.A.
- If a CAS student pursues a B.A. in HMS and their required second major as a B.A. through COH, they are required to fulfill the distribution requirements listed for a HMS CAS/COH B.A. + B.A.
- If a CAS student completes a HMS major and another CAS B.A. as their second major, they complete the distribution requirements of CAS. If a COH student completes a HMS major and another COH major as their second major, they complete the distribution requirements of COH.
HMS CAS/COH B.A. + B.A. Distribution Requirements The HMS CAS/COH B.A. + B.A. distribution requirements allow for certain overlap between the CAS and COH distribution requirements. Students pursuing the HMS CAS/COH B.A. + B.A. must complete: - One first-year seminar in either the CAS or COH;- Two semesters of First-Year Writing;- One Mathematics (MA) course, for a minimum of 3 credits;- Two courses Investigating the Natural World (NW), for 7 credits, of which 1 credit must be earned as a lab associated with a science lecture; In addition to CAS Natural World (NW) courses, CGH 103 in COH may count towards this requirement;- Two CAS Interpreting and Understanding the Human Experience (HE) courses for at least 7 credits; One course may be chosen from COH Health Bioethics (HEBI) courses;- Two CAS Creating and Expressing through Arts and Languages (AL) courses for at least 7 credits, which may overlap with the COH collateral language requirement;- Two CAS Investigating the Social World (SW) courses for at least 7 credits, of which CAS SW courses as well as CGH 104 and 105 in COH may be used and may overlap with the COH Determinants of Health requirement;- Three additional writing courses, which may be a combination of CAS Writing Encounters (W) and COH Health Science Writing (HESC);- Three additional quantitative courses that represent a mix of CAS Quantitative Reasoning (Q) courses and BSTA coursework in COH, with at least one course from CAS and one course from COH;- Three additional courses that explore contemporary issues that represent a mix of CAS Contemporary Challenges (CC) courses and COH Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEIN) or COH Sustainability (SUST) requirements.
b.s. Integrated business & health
Co-directors:
- Prof. Han Ye, College of Business
- Prof. Eduardo Gomez, College of Health
Click here for additional information.
The BS in Business and Health trains students to apply knowledge about the social determinants of health, and the ability to work with communities, to develop and implement solutions in the health industry. This interdisciplinary program provides students with knowledge and skills from the core curriculum in business and health economics offered by the College of Business and training in health policy and community health from the College of Health.
The program follows a cohort-based structure, which ensures that students progress through the curriculum together as a group. Consequently, transferring into the program from other programs at Lehigh or external institutions is not allowed. Students must indicate their intention to enroll in the IC program when they apply for admission to Lehigh.
| Distribution Requirements 1 | ||
| WRT 001 | Academic and Analytical Writing | 3 |
| POPH 319 | Population Health Bioethics | 3 |
| Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 2 | 3 | |
| Sustainability 2 | 3 | |
| Business Core | ||
| ECO 001 | Principles of Economics | 4 |
| BUS 003 | Business Communication I | 1.5 |
| MATH 081 | Calculus with Business Applications I | 4 |
| or MATH 021 | Calculus I | |
| BUAN 044 | Business Analytics I | 1.5 |
| MGT 043 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| ACCT 151 | Introduction to Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ACCT 152 | Introduction to Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| BSTA 101 & BSTA 102 | Population Health Data Science I and Population Health Data Science I Algorithms Lab | 4 |
| or ECO 045 | Statistical Methods | |
| BIS 111 | Introduction to Information Systems | 3 |
| ECO 146 | Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis | 3 |
| FIN 125 | Introduction to Finance | 3 |
| MKT 111 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| SCM 186 | Supply Chain Operations Management | 3 |
| BUS 203 | Business Communication II | 1.5 |
| LAW 201 | Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| BUAN 244 | Business Analytics II | 1.5 |
| MGT 243 | Leadership in Organizations | 3 |
| MGT 301 | Strategic Management in a Global Environment Capstone | 3 |
| Foundational Courses | ||
| POPH 001 | Introduction to Population and Public Health | 4 |
| POPH 002 | Population Health Research Methods & Application | 4 |
| BUHE 001 | Integrated Seminar | 3 |
| Methods Courses | ||
| BSTA 103 & BSTA 104 | Population Health Data Science II and Population Health Data Science II Algorithms Lab | 4 |
| or ECO 157 | Statistical Methods II | |
| EPI 104 | Fundamentals of Epidemiology | 3 |
| ECO 357 | Econometrics | 3 |
| or EPI 305 | Intermediate Epidemiology | |
| Health Policy & Politics Core | ||
| CGH 004 | Introduction to Global Health | 3 |
| CGH 104 | Sociocultural & Political Determinants of Health | 4 |
| CGH 105 | Commercial Determinants of Health | 4 |
| CGH 313 | Health Policy and Politics | 3 |
| One Health Policy Elective at the 300-level 3 | 3 | |
| Health Care Business & Economics Core | ||
| MGT 233 | Managing the Health Care Workforce | 3 |
| SCM 240 | Health Care Operations Management | 3 |
| ECO 368 | Health Economics | 3 |
| ECO 369 | Analysis of Health Care Markets | 3 |
| Integrated Capstone | ||
| BUHE 301 | Integrated Capstone | 3 |
| Free Electives 4 | 8 | |
| Total Credits 5 | 122-24 | |
- 1
Distribution courses should be chosen in consultation with the advisor. Courses taken within the major department to satisfy a major may not satisfy distribution requirements in more than one area. The student (with the advisor's assistance) is responsible for seeing that courses used in the major are not used to complete the distribution requirements in more than one area. If a distribution requirement is applied to the major requirement, students may take any additional course(s) as long as 122 - 124 total credits are completed.
- 2
Courses that meet the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Sustainability requirements are labeled with the attributes DEIN and SUST. Additional information on courses that meet these requirements is also available by contacting the College of Health advising office at cohadvising@lehihg.edu.
- 3
Chosen in consultation with an advisor.
- 4
Electives must be taken outside of the College of Business and the College of Health.
- 5
Total credits may vary depending on the student's course selection for the following requirements: BSTA 101 Population Health Data Science I & BSTA 102 Population Health Data Science I Algorithms Lab (4 credits total) or ECO 045 Statistical Methods (3 credits), and BSTA 103 Population Health Data Science II & BSTA 104 Population Health Data Science II Algorithms Lab (4 credits total) or ECO 157 Statistical Methods II (3 credits).
Graduate PROGRAMS
Contact Information & advising SUPPORT:
College of Health graduate programs equip students to understand and appropriately improve the health and well-being of populations and communities locally, nationally, and globally. Students investigate and address the multiple determinants of health through technology- and data-driven research and community partnership in all College of Health graduate programs. We empower our graduate students to shape the future by improving the health of populations.
- 4+1 Accelerated Master of Public Health (MPH)
- Master of Public Health (MPH)
- Graduate Certificate in Population Health
- Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management
- Graduate Certificate in Global Health
- PhD in Population Health
- 4+1 Master of Science in Health Systems Engineering (with the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering & Applied Science)
- Flex MBA with Public Health concentration (with the College of Business)
master programs
4+1 aCCELERATED Master PROGRAM
Qualified students can earn a master's degree at an accelerated pace. Students accepted into the 4+1 accelerated master program begin taking the suggested graduate classes during their junior and senior year. After successful completion of twelve (12) credits of graduate coursework (grade 'B' or higher), they can complete the graduate program in one full year after graduating with their undergraduate degree.
Current Lehigh students who have a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 may be automatically accepted into the 4+1 accelerated master program once they have achieved junior standing (a minimum of 54 credits). Students wishing to pursue this program who do not qualify for direct admittance based on their GPA are welcome to apply for acceptance. Graduate courses taken while in the 4+1 program do not count toward undergraduate degree credits, so it's important to plan ahead.
Students interested in learning more about the 4+1 program are encouraged to attend an info session or to contact the College of Health graduate advising team at cohgrad@lehigh.edu.
Benefits of the 4+1 program include:
- Graduate courses taken as an undergraduate are included in undergraduate tuition;
- No application process for students with an overall GPA of 3.5 or better;
- Completion of up to 4 graduate courses while an undergraduate student;
- 30% tuition discount on graduate tuition during the +1 full-time graduate year;
- A savings of more than 40% off the total cost of the graduate degree;
- Fulfillment of master degree requirements in 1/2 the time.
recommended 4+1 MPH schedule *
*Not following the recommended course schedule may result in a delayed graduation.
| Junior Year (Fall) | ||
| Health Promotion and Education | ||
| Junior Year (Spring) | ||
| Health Services, Administration, Politics, and Policy | ||
| Senior Year (Fall) | ||
| Health Program Planning and Implementation | ||
| Senior Year (Spring) | ||
| Methods in Epidemiology I | ||
MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH (mph)
Lehigh University's Master of Public Health (MPH) degree prepares students to engage in public health research, practice, and policymaking at local, state, national, and global levels. Students develop competencies in core public health disciplines, analyze health determinants using data science, and design innovative, evidence-based strategies to improve the health and well-being of diverse populations. The program integrates foundational public health courses with those in data science, qualitative research methods, health communication, and environmental health justice. Students acquire knowledge and skills through coursework, experiential learning, research projects, and engagement with diverse community partners. The MPH degree requires a minimum of 42 credits.
| Core Requirements 1 | ||
| BSTA 402 | Biostatistics in Health 2 | 3 |
| EPI 404 | Methods in Epidemiology I | 3 |
| POPH 405 | Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| PUBH 401 | Health Promotion and Education | 3 |
| PUBH 402 | Health Services, Administration, Politics, and Policy | 3 |
| PUBH 403 | Health Program Planning and Implementation | 3 |
| PUBH 405 | Program Evaluation Methods | 3 |
| POPH 409 | Social Determinants of Health | 3 |
| Generalist Requirements | ||
| POPH 431 | Environmental Health Justice | 3 |
| EPI 405 | Methods in Epidemiology II | 3 |
| BSTA 403 | Health Applications in Statistical Learning | 3 |
| Elective 1 | ||
| Students are encouraged to take an elective that will provide them with additional expertise in a substantive or methodological area of interest. Electives can be taken outside the College of Health, but adviser approval is required. | 3 | |
| Practicum and Capstone | ||
| PUBH 410 | Applied Practice Experience | 3 |
| PUBH 411 | Public Health Capstone | 3 |
| Total Credits | 42 | |
- 1
For students enrolled in the 4+1 accelerated BS/MPH or BA/MPH program, courses taken during the student’s undergraduate degree cannot be applied as an undergraduate degree requirement.
- 2
If the student has taken BSTA 101 Population Health Data Science I and BSTA 102 Population Health Data Science I Algorithms Lab or is majoring in Biostatistics & Health Data Science, replace BSTA 402 Biostatistics in Health with an adviser-approved elective.
GRADUATE CERTIFICATES
POPULATION HEALTH CERTIFICATE
The graduate certificate in population health will prepare students to learn and apply graduate-level introductory Population Health concepts and methodology. The certificate requires a minimum of 12 credits, including introductory courses in Population Health, Epidemiology, and Population Health Data Science, as well as an elective course selected in consultation with the adviser. The 12 credits earned in this certificate program can be applied to the Master of Public Health (MPH).
| POPH 401 | Population Health Concepts and Methods | 3 |
| EPI 404 | Methods in Epidemiology I | 3 |
| BSTA 402 | Biostatistics in Health | 3 |
| or POPH 405 | Qualitative Research Methods | |
| Elective chosen in consultation with the advisor. | 3-4 | |
| Total Credits | 12-13 | |
Healthcare management certificate
The Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management prepares students to develop advanced knowledge of healthcare systems and the practical skills required for leadership roles in the healthcare industry. The program emphasizes core concepts in healthcare delivery, administration, policy, finance, and operations, equipping students to address contemporary challenges and contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of systems and processes in a variety of healthcare settings. The Certificate requires a minimum of 12 credit hours, including Health Services, Administration, Politics, and Policy, Healthcare Operations Management, Healthcare Finance, as well as one elective course selected in consultation with the advisor to support individualized career goals and professional interests.
| PUBH 402 | Health Services, Administration, Politics, and Policy | 3 |
| CGH 435 | Healthcare Operations Management | 3 |
| CGH 431 | Healthcare Finance | 3 |
| Elective chosen in consultation with the advisor. | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
*Global Health Certificate
The graduate certificate in Global Health is open to all graduate students at Lehigh, graduate students from other accredited institutions, and non-degree-seeking students who have a bachelor's degree. The certificate can complement studies pursued within Lehigh’s other graduate programs or the College of Health’s Master of Public Health (MPH), but no more than one course approved by a College of Health adviser may count for both the graduate Global Health Certificate and other declared program of study. There are no additional admissions requirements.
| POPH 413 | Foundations of Global Health | 3 |
| POPH 414 | Global Health Research or Field Experience | 3 |
| BSTA 402 | Biostatistics in Health | 3 |
| or POPH 405 | Qualitative Research Methods | |
| Elective chosen in consultation with the adviser. | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
DOCTORAL PROGRAM
PHD in POPULATION HEALTH
Lehigh University's Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Population Health degree prepares doctoral students to investigate, integrate, and address health determinants using multiple methodologies, including data science and community based participatory research, and develop novel and effective avenues for disease diagnosis and prevention, health promotion, and intervention. The program combines foundational courses in population health with additional data science, qualitative research methods, population health survey methods, research ethics, and policymaking. By providing a strong disciplinary and methodological foundation in Population Health through coursework, experiential learning opportunities, research projects, and engagement with traditional and non-traditional partners to pursue a healthier world, the Ph.D. program prepares students to pursue an independent line of inquiry and develop their own body of research.
The Ph.D. in Population Health program objectives reflect our commitment to graduating students who are ready and able to produce high-quality original scholarship.Upon graduation, a student completing the Ph.D. in Population Health will be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of frameworks and concepts used in community and population health
- Develop and apply theoretical frameworks to formulate research questions relevant to interdisciplinary population health
- Select and conduct appropriate study designs to address interdisciplinary population health research questions
- Understand strategies for interdisciplinary teamwork, build trust, and strengthen communication with scholars across disciplines
- Demonstrate knowledge about the responsible conduct of research and conduct research following the rules and policies for ethical research.
- Employ written, oral, and visual communication skills to disseminate and translate scholarship to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- Demonstrate the effective use of teaching methods to engage students in a variety of educational settings (large group, small group, in-person, or online).
The Ph.D. in Population Health degree requires a minimum of 72 credit hours. Candidates for the Ph.D. in Population Health are expected to enroll full-time and are required to be immersed in research, fulfill a teaching experience, participate in College and Department events, pass qualifying written and oral examinations, as well as complete and defend original dissertation research. A specific course of study is followed by Ph.D. in Population Health students during the first year of full-time study with elective courses completed during the first and second years of full-time study. Ph.D. students generally begin their dissertation research in the third year of full-time study, after passing their qualifying examinations.
| Core Requirements | 12 | |
| Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Population Health | ||
| Research Ethics in Population Health | ||
| Grant Writing | ||
| Teaching Community and Population Health | ||
| Determinants Courses 1 | 6 | |
Two courses focused on the determinants of health, chosen in consultation with the adviser. | ||
| Biostatistics Course 1 | 3 | |
One biostatistics focused course, chosen in consultation with the adviser. | ||
| Qualitative Course 1 | 3 | |
One qualitative methods course, chosen in consultation with the adviser. | ||
| Epidemiology Course 1 | 3 | |
One epidemiology focused course, chosen in consultation with the adviser. | ||
| Electives 1 | 27 | |
A minimum of 27 credits, chosen in consultation with an adviser. Students are encouraged to take courses that will provide them with additional expertise in substantive and/or methodological areas of interest; 9 credits must focus on a methodological area of interest. | ||
| Population Health Dissertation Proposal 2 | 6 | |
| Population Health Dissertation Proposal | ||
Students will work closely with their doctoral advisor and doctoral committee to develop their dissertation proposal. Students will orally defend their dissertation proposal to their doctoral committee and will need to obtain approval before proceeding to the dissertation phase. | ||
| Population Health Dissertation 3 | 12 | |
| Population Health Dissertation | ||
Students will work closely with their doctoral advisor and doctoral committee to complete their dissertation project. Students will be required to pass their dissertation defense and incorporate feedback from the committee in order to meet the graduation requirements for the doctoral degree. | ||
| Total Minimum Credits | 72 | |
- 1
Courses taken outside the College of Health must be approved by an adviser.
- 2
If students complete 72 credits beyond the undergraduate degree and prior to advancing to candidacy, they need to be enrolled in at least 3 credit hours per semester.
- 3
After completion of 72 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree, students are permitted to register for ‘Maintenance of Candidacy’ and will be charged a single credit hour of graduate tuition per semester.
Courses
HLTH 200 Work Experience in Health 3 Credits
Supervised work assignment to obtain practical experience. Must have acceptance into the program. P/F grading.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
HLTH 300 Apprentice Teaching 1-4 Credits
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
HLTH 400 Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Population Health 3 Credits
This course will explore central issues in the philosophical and theoretical foundations central to population health research methods. It focuses on critically analyzing and applying theories to scholarship. Students will engage with theoretical thinking, reading, and writing, applying it to their research interests. Course work will cover the philosophy of science alongside theoretical frameworks and both formal and informal theories from interdisciplinary fields. Students will refine their research agendas, developing questions and conceptual frameworks to guide their work.
HLTH 412 Research Ethics in Population Health 3 Credits
Students will explore ethical concepts and critical issues pertaining to the ethical inclusion of human subjects in population health research as well as the responsible conduct of research. This course will provide opportunities for writing about, discussion of, and case-based learning around current and historical perspectives on population health research. Students will complete the necessary training for participating in human subjects research as well as the responsible conduct of research at Lehigh University.
HLTH 416 Grant Writing 3 Credits
This course will introduce students to grant writing in community health, population health, and public health. Topics include, but are not limited to, researching appropriate funding agencies and funding mechanisms, developing specific aims, project narratives, and budgets, understanding reviewer summary statements, and drafting reports for funding agencies. Differences in funding from federal, state, and private agencies and organizations will also be discussed. Students will draft their own proposals with the intent of submission. This course is intended for doctoral students.
HLTH 417 Teaching Community and Population Health 3 Credits
This course is designed for doctoral students in community health and population health to learn about teaching and course development. Students will learn about the pragmatic aspects of curriculum design, including syllabus design, how to select readings, assignment and exam design, grading and rubric design, creating lectures and slides, lecturing, and leading discussions for different levels of learners. Students will also gain practical experience in these areas and will create a new community or population health course.
HLTH 482 Population Health Dissertation Proposal 1-8 Credits
Students will work closely with their doctoral advisor and doctoral committee to develop their dissertation proposal. Students will orally defend their dissertation proposal to their doctoral committee and will need to obtain approval before proceeding to the dissertation phase.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
HLTH 492 (ARTS 492, BUS 492, ENGR 492) Summer Research 1-3 Credits
Summer research experience for graduate students. Only available to students with summer academic appointments.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
HLTH 499 Population Health Dissertation 1-8 Credits
Students will work closely with their doctoral advisor and doctoral committee to complete their dissertation project. Students will be required to pass their dissertation defense and incorporate feedback from the committee in order to meet the graduation requirements for the doctoral degree.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
